Police are being attacked by yobs on average once every day in Sussex, it was revealed today.

Latest Government statistics revealed there were 625 attacks in the year ending April, 2004, down from 1,120 in 2001/2.

But Sussex Police put the 2004 tally at 330 - a lot lower, but an increase on previous years.

The force, surprised by the different Government figures, said the 2002/3 total was 186.

A spokesman said attacks were on the decline due mainly to the introduced of Captor spray which disables violent offenders.

But Ray Pattenden, of the Sussex branch of the Police Federation, said one was one too many.

He said people joining the force accepted that at some point in their careers they could be assaulted.

"But that doesn't make it any more acceptable.

"Police are entitled to carry out their public duties without fear of being assaulted and if they are, we look to the courts to adequately punish culprits to deter others and to protect police."

The federation was unhappy with the recent two-year sentence imposed on a man who shattered an officer's leg.

PC Andy Misrahi was carried on the bonnet of the man's car and may never be able to return to patrolling the streets of Shoreham.

Mr Pattenden said: "The irony of this case is that the offender will likely be back on the streets a lot sooner than Andy."

PC Misrahi has called for tougher sentences for criminals who injure officers in the course of their duty.

Sussex Police said the majority of assaults were minor pushes, punches and shoves but every case was taken seriously.

Government figures show that assaults nationally on police were declining but there were still 21,927 in the year ending April 2004.

The statistics were branded "horrifying" by MPs, who urged the courts to get tough with culprits.

Mark Oaten, home affairs spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, who requested the figures, said: "It's horrifying the police find themselves the victims of assaults and it starkly demonstrates the breakdown of respect for authority as well as serious issues of police safety."

It is already a criminal offence to attack a police officer on duty but only about a third of recorded incidents result in a conviction.

In Sussex, 192 people were convicted in 2003 compared with 152 in 1999.

PC Misrahi, left in agony by Shaun Kelly, who had enough cannabis in his car to make nearly 900 joints, said: "Two years is not enough for what he did.

"He will serve only half of that. I think he should have got four years and should be made to serve at least two years."

The 42-year-old PC added: "There is not enough protection for the public or for officers like me if offenders who injure police officers think they will be out on the streets again after only a year."